As fears mounted that the virus could spread to the UK from West Africa, Mr Hammond said he was focused on finding a way to "deal" with the outbreak.

Confirming that no one in Britain has so far contracted Ebola, Mr Hammond said: "As far as we are aware, there are no British nationals so far affected by this outbreak and certainly no cases in the UK.

"However the Prime Minister does regard it as a very serious threat and I will be chairing a Cobra meeting later today to assess the situation and look at any measures that we need to take either in the UK, or in our diplomatic posts abroad in order to manage the threat.

"We are very much focused on it as a new and emerging threat which we need to deal with."

His comments come after it was confirmed that a man has been tested for Ebola in the UK.

The Department of Health said that the man was checked over in Birmingham but tests for the virus had proved negative.

“We are very much focused on it as a new and emerging threat which we need to deal with”

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond

Reports suggest the man was tested earlier this week after he travelled from Benin in Nigeria via Paris to the Midlands.

Meanwhile, another male visited a separate UK hospital over fears he had the virus.

The male, who attended Charing Cross Hospital in west London, was assessed but doctors ruled out the need for an Ebola test.

Health professionals have been warned to be vigilant for signs of the virus spreading after an outbreak killed 670 people in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria – including a doctor who was treating patients.

Border officials and airport staff have been briefed on the symptoms to look out for in passengers travelling into the country after Patrick Sawyer, who was infected with the virus, was able to make multiple flights from Liberia to Nigeria, where he later died.

VICTIM: Patrick Sawyer was able to travel while infected before dying in Nigeria [AP]

Public Health England (PHE) have also told doctors to "remain vigilant for unexplained illness in those who have visited the affected area".

Sir Mark Walport, the Government's chief scientific adviser, backed up Mr Hammond's warning, saying that the disease was "potentially a major threat" to Britain.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "The most dangerous infections of humans have always been those which have emerged from other species.

"They are a potential major threat to us.

"Emerging infectious disease is a global grand challenge."

DEADLY: Health workers wear protective clothing as they carry a body of a victim in Africa [EPA]

People can become infected with the virus from direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people.

Those most at risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with the sick and dead patients.

Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and a sore throat.

This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

It can take up to 21 days for symptoms to show after being infected.

Anyone with symptoms are advised not to travel to avoid spreading the virus.